Algeria plans to increase budget spending by 25 pct in 2018

A woman shops in a street market in Algiers, Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011. Calm appeared to prevail following violent protests on Sunday, after deaths were reported during demonstrations over increased prices of staple food stuff. The government announced that it will cut the cost of sugar and cooking oil. (AP Photo)

ALGIERS – Algeria plans to increase state spending by 25 percent in 2018 despite growing financial pressure caused by a fall in energy earnings, the presidency said on Thursday after a cabinet meeting.

The government expects a budget deficit of 9 percent of gross domestic product in 2018, up from the 8 percent forecast for this year, but down from 14 percent in 2016, the presidency said in a statement.